403 Forbidden

TRENTON — Over the strenuous objection of Democrats, the congressional redistricting commission this morning adopted a map that puts U.S. Rep Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.) in a district with Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.), in which Garrett has a clear advantage.

“The map that I am prepared to support today is in every measure an improvement of the preexisting current map,” said John Farmer, Jr., who cast his tiebreaking vote with the Republicans’ proposal.

In a 7-6 vote, Farmer cast his lot with the Republicans’ map because, he said, it preserves two minority districts while creating opportunities for minority candidates in two others; is more compact than the previous map; has equal populations in each district; and has continuity of representation, meaning many people will have the same congressman.

“I think it is fair to say I have exasperated all my colleagues at this table in an effort to drive comprise and bring both parties together,” said Farmer.

But Democrats protested and attempted to delay the vote, the official deadline for which is not until January 17, because they said it did not provide a “fair fight” for Rothman and, they said, split similar minority communities – in particular Asian-Americans in Bergen County.

The district Rothman is thrown into bears a strong resemblance to Garrett’s old district, with Rothman’s hometown of Fair Lawn thrown in.

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“The map that is before us today is not a fair fight district. It is a map that has a very significant advantage for Congressman Garrett,” said former Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, who led the Democrats’ redistricting team.

And in South Jersey’s 3rd District, freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan saw Cherry Hill, a large Democratic town, removed from his district, giving him a big advantage next year in a district that had been considered competitive. Cherry Hill went to the already safe Democratic district of Rob Andrews (D-1st Dist.). Roberts called the notion that Runyan’s new district is competitive “a work of fiction.”

Roberts said voting today would be “reckless” because it “denies the public the opportunity to be heard.”

But Republicans said that was a new complaint to them, and said the map presented today was very close to several they shared with Democrats during the process.

“We believe the final map that we are prepared to support today is fair and constitutional, it is balanced, the voters will have a fair say,” said Mike DuHaime, leader of the Republican commissioners.